Nebraska Flooding Reduced Because of Drought

(AP) — Central Nebraska continues to experience minor flooding along the Platte River, but it’s less severe there because some of the water has been absorbed by the state’s drought-stricken land.

The National Weather Service says a large part of why the flooding in central Nebraska is less severe than last week’s flooding upstream is that the dry river bed and surrounding land has soaked up some of the floodwaters.

But flooding of low-lying areas and agricultural land near the Platte River is expected to continue in central Nebraska for several more days.

At Kearney, the river is expected to begin flooding Wednesday afternoon and crest Thursday at 6.9 feet.

In Grand Island, the water will approach flood stage Friday when it crests at 6.4 feet but it may not flood.